Does Running Cause Arthritis?
As a runner, I have been told by friends or family that running will “wear out your joints,” that “it causes osteoarthritis,” and that it “is bad for your knees.” Although most of these comments were few and far between, they stuck with me. Since becoming a physical therapist, I started to hear comments like this more frequently. However, this does not line up exactly with my understanding of the human body and how it responds to various stimuli. So I explored the question: Does running cause arthritis and should I be worried?
Blood Flow Restriction for Knee Osteoarthritis
Knee pain can be a very troublesome nuisance to a majority of the population; whether knees are sore from a long day of activity or have been persistently sore from those glory days long ago. Knee pain can affect quality of life in many different ways including decreasing activity levels, making it uncomfortable to maintain certain postures for prolonged periods of time, or making it bothersome to go up and down stairs at home. Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is among the common knee-related conditions affecting quality of life – especially in the older population. In fact, knee OA is present in nearly 40 percent of individuals older than 60.
4 Ways Physical Therapy Can Help Those Who Suffer From Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) can have a major impact on essential and functional activities of daily living. It can reduce or hinder a person’s ability to walk, ride a bike, climb stairs or get on the ground to play with children and grandchildren.
Do knee braces or sleeves work for knee osteoarthritis?
Knee osteoarthritis (breakdown of articular cartilage along the joint surfaces) is rampant in the aging population. Some statistics show nearly 1 in 2 people may develop symptomatic knee osteoarthritis by age 85 years (1). These are odds are not good! (more…)
Beauty Before Pain: One Therapist’s Perspective on High Heel Shoes
“I had surgery 2 weeks ago. When can I wear heels?”
“I wore heels for 30 years, every day at my job. Now I can’t wear flat shoes because my ankles are too tight.”
“I have a growth in my foot that is pressing on some nerves. I just want to wear heels again.”
“Please tell my daughter not to wear 5 inch heels!”
These are a few statements, as a therapist, I hear more often than you may think! Woman LOVE their high heeled shoes! I recently went to a dancing event where a family friend showed off her dance heels to me. I asked her why she wasn’t dancing, and she told me that she couldn’t stay balanced in her dance shoes! Now I am a girl, and I like to dress up and put on heels, too. However, as a therapist who sees heel lovers suffer ankle fractures and sprains, I have to wonder: Is the thought of “beauty before pain” truly worth it? (more…)
